Harness-saddle



(No Model.)

J. FISCHER.

HARNESS SADDLE.

No. 427,470. Patented May 6, 1890.

M 3 M w lw iw M UL a m D o 3 o C F f 2 V 5. .1 m n E m x m m Q UNITED STATES PATENT ()FFICE.

JOHN FISCHER, OF LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY.

HARNESS-SADDLE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 427,470, dated May 6, 1890. Application filed January 14, 1889. Renewed December 23, 1889. Serial No. 334,604. (No model.)

lowing to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it pertains to make and use it, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which form part of this specification.

My invention relates to an improvementin harness-saddles; and it consists in, first, the

. combination of the metallic tree, which is made just long enough to extend over the top of the back, flexible pieces which are attached to the tree at each end, and metallic plates which are attached to the lowerends of the flexible pieces and to which the rings and other attachments of the saddle are attached through the covering or flap, which is secured to the outer sides of the plates, all of which will be more fully described hereinafter; second, a metallic loop provided with shoulders which act as stops, as will be more fully described hereinafter.

The object of my invention is to produce a harness-saddle having a tree which consists of several pieces which are loosely connected together, so as to give the utmost freedom to the saddle in adapting itself to the horses back; to provide the but-ton which fits upon the top of the saddle and secures its cover in position with studs or projections on its under side, so as to catch in the leather, and thus dispense with all necessity of a tool forholding the button while being tightened in position, and to provide the metallic loops which hold the straps in position upon the saddle with stops, so as to prevent the prongs of the loop from passing through the leather beyond a certain point.

Figure 1 represents a side elevation of the tree, the flexible pieces attached thereto, and the metallic plates. Fig. 2 is a plan view of the same. Fig. 3 is an edge View of a slightlydifferent form of my invention, the pad being omitted in all of the figures. Fig. 4: is a plan view of the same. Fig. 5 is a vertical section of one of the buttons. Fig. 6 is a detail View of one of the loops.

A represents the metallic tree, which is made just long enough to extend over the top of the back and which has secured to its side at each end a strip or plate of flexible material This flexible material will be of any suitable length, and secured to the under side of this material are the metallic plates 0, which are to give strength to the saddle at its sides and through which the metallic fastenings are to be fastened. It is immaterial whether the flexible strips or plates are formed of sheet metal or leather, as they are designed only to connect the tree and the metallic plates loosely together, so as to allow the metallic plates and the sides of the pad the greatest amount of play, and thus allow themselves to be adapted to the shape of the animals back to which the saddle is applied. If so desired, as shown in Fig. 3, instead of a mere flexible strip of leather or sheet metal, the flaps G of the saddle may be fastened directly to the tree, which is placed overits top, and then to the metallic plate secured to the under side of the flap. The pad is to be applied to the under side of the saddle in the usual manner, so as to protect the horses back. By thus loosely connecting the metallic plates to the tree by means of flexible connections the saddle is made so pliable that'it can be applied freely to horses having differentshaped backs, and will adapt itself to the shape of one horse as well as to another. If also desired, in order to enable the saddle to be adapted to the horses withers and prevent the saddle fromchafing the withers, the front portion of the saddle is recessed or cut away, as shown, thereby bringing the center of the saddle farther back, so that it will come less in contact with the withers at this point.

The buttons O,used in connection with the clamping-screws P and which bear upon the upper side of the saddle, are provided with screw-sockets to receive the upper ends of the screws P and with two prongs or projections Q, which catch in the leather of the saddle as the button is drawn down into position by the action of the screw, and thus hold the button and dispense with the necessity of a tool for holding the button. The screw passes up through the different parts of the saddle,

as shown, and the button forms an ornamental finish upon its upper side. I-Ieretofore buttons have been used without the prongs Q, and a special tool has been found necessary for holding the button in position While the screw is being tightened.

In order to limit the distance that the prongs of the metallic loops R shall pass down through the leather of the saddle, the shoulders act both as stops and form bearings for the loops, so as to support them more rigidly in position.

Having thus described my invention, I claimi 1. In a harness-saddle, the combination of ,the metallic tree A, the flexible connections 13, secured to and extending below opposite ,ends of the tree, and the metallic plates O, secured to the lower ends of the connections, substantially as shown. I

2. In a harness-saddle, the combination of the metallic tree A, flexible connections which are fastened to each of its ends, the metallic plates which are fastened to thelower ends of the flexible connections, the covering for the saddle, and the metallic attachments to the saddle which are passed through the metallic plate and secured thereto, substantially as described. I

8. In a harness-saddle, the combination of the covering of the saddle, the metallic plates 0, provided with perforations, and the loops R, provided with shoulders which act as stops and ends which are adapted to be clinched against the under sides of the plates, substantially as specified.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JOHN FISCHER. WVitnesses:

F. A. LEHMANN, L. L. BURKET. 

